Mowing-machine clip



Sept. 20,1927.

A. D. GOODWIN MOWING MACHINE CLIP Filed July 23, 1925 INVENTOR Alfred B. Goodwin Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

ALFRED D. GOODWIN, F RIPON, CALIFORNIA.

MOWING-MACHINE CLIP.

Application filed July 23, 1925. Serial No. 45,505.

This invention relates to improvements in attachments for mowing machines, and particularly to a combined clip and bearing structure to be mounted on the finger and cutter bars of the mower.

The device of the present invention particularly represents an improvement over that type of structure shown in my co -pending application for patent on an anti-friction clip for mowers filed June 14th, 19%,

Serial No. 720,001. This form of device employed rollers mounted in the clips on the linger bar bearing against tracks mounted on the cutter bar. This structure reduced friction considerably but with continued operation the rollers had a tendency to become jammed, resulting in the flattening of said rollers with a consequent failure to function properly.

The principal object of the present lnvention is to eliminate the above defect by providing, in place of the rollers, flat plates to bear against the tracks. These plates are so mounted in the clips that they are enabled to properly aline with the tracks throughout their extent at'all times, so that the full bearing surfaces available are utilized, and wear develops evenly. Apart from this difference the construction of the present device is essentially the same as the original, though somewhat cheaper to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: I

Fig. 1 is a top fragmentary outline of an ordinary mower structure, showing my improved attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference marked on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a finger bar, having forwardly projecting guards 2 on which are the ledger plates or fixed cutters 3.

Positioned between the ledger plates and the finger bar is the cutter bar 4:, having the usual knives 5 secured thereon by rivets 6. The knives overhang the rear edge of the bar 4 somewhat, certain ones resting on wearing plates 7 mounted on the finger bar at suitably spaced intervals. The parts thus far described are standard, and I do not in-, terfere with the same when applying my attachment thereto.

The latter comprises a plurality of plates 8, one for each of the wearing plates, and having slotted holes 9 to aline with the bolt holes in said wearing plates. The same bolts 10 employed in securing the wearing plates and the guards thereunder, to the finger bar, are used in securing the plates 8.

These plates are cut inwardly from their forward ends for a certain distance intermediate the ends of the plates, to enable the central portion of said plates to be bent upwardly, and to then extend over the adjacent portions of the knives in the form ofclips 11 such as are commonly used as guides for tlie knives, and which my attachments disp ace.

Disposed under each clip portion 11 and extendinglengthwise of the finger bar is a bearing plate 12, preferably of angled cross section arranged in inverted order. This plate is pivotally secured onto the member 11 by a rivet 18.

The forward edges of all these plates bear against short tracks 14; fixed on certain ones of the knives 5 by means of rivets 15 passed through the same holes already provided in the knives and cutter-bar. The length of these tracks is sufiicient to allow of the reciprocation of the cutter bar through its usual extent of travel without the plates 12 becoming disengaged therefrom, and the clips are so adjusted that when said tracks and plates are bearing against each other, the adjacent edges of the cutter bar and wearing plates 7 are free of each other. This adjustment may be readily obtained by reason of the fact that the bolt holes 9 in the clip plates are slotted in that direction, which enables the clips to be moved to and from the tracks. 0

By reason of the bearing plates 12 being pivoted onto the clips they will always hear evenly against the tracks throughout their full extent. This manner of mounting these plates is essential, since it is almost impossible to insure that the tracks and clips can be secured in absolute parallel relation on the cutter and finger bars.

The tracks may be and preferably are identical in form with the bearing plates and interchangeable therewith. These members are therefore provided during their manufacture with the necessary holes to receive both the rivets 13 and 15.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire tov secure by Letters Patent is:

prisinga flat rail member adapted to be attached to the cutter bar, a flat Wearingplate to abut against the rail, the latter being slidable along the plate, and a clip member in which said plate is pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement, adapted to be secured onto the finger bar.

2. An attachment for mowing machines having a finger bar and a cutter bar, comprising a fiat rail member adapted to be attached to the cutter bar, and a flat Wearing plate to abut against the rail the latter being slidable along the plate, a clip member to which the plate is secured, adapted to be mounted on the finger bar and to then overhang the rail.

In testimony whereof I a'tfix my signature.

ALFRED D. GOODWIN. 

